Happy Monday! We are beyond excited about our topic today for our #MindfulnessMonday, which we are calling, Dream On (thanks for letting us borrow the title Aerosmith!)

As you all know, 2 weeks ago we embarked on our first retreat, and it was a dream come true. To be honest, it surpassed our dreams! It was a week of immersion in the natural beauty of Costa Rica, in Yoga, in self-discovery and in genuine human connection. We explored Costa Rican wildlife, we ate local foods, we breathed the fresh ocean air and practiced yoga to the sounds of crashing waves and chirping birds. We talked, we laughed and we sat in silence. Some of us came in as strangers and have all departed as true friends.

When Mindfulness Matters founder, Samara, quit her corporate job to dedicate herself and her work to yoga, leading a retreat was a HUGE dream that Samara dared to dream. There were setbacks, there was stress, and there were times where we thought it just may never happen. But, we pushed through. We set an intention, we stuck to it and the universe opened up and helped us make it happen. And, we are so grateful for that.

We have returned from the retreat rejuvenated and enlightened and SO excited to plan the next retreat (stay tuned!) Our initial dream has come true and it has inspired us to keep dreaming and to chase those dreams regardless of any obstacles.

So, what are you dreaming of doing this Monday? Is it hiking Machu Pichu? Is it getting your MBA at Harvard? Is it comfortably getting into Hanumanasana (split)? Is it Sunday brunch? Whatever it is, dream on, the world is yours!

Happy Monday!! February is a rough month don't you think? Holidays are officially over, it's cold and there is often little to look forward to. But, we will not let that get us down will we? And plus, here at Mindfulness Matters we have something HUGE to look forward to- our retreat in Costa Rica, which starts this Friday!! We cannot wait, the excitement is just growing and growing as the days progress.

So, for today's #MindfulnessMonday, we thought we would talk about commitment. Commitment is often described as staying loyal to what you said you would do, long after the mood you said it in has passed. We all know this drill all too well - "I'm going to run 5 miles every morning, rain or shine" said the guy who just finished a great run on a sunnySaturday morning. Come a gloomy Tuesday, that same enthusiasm is bound to dwindle. Or, "I am going to practice affirmations in the mirror every morning" said the girl who just left an amazing conference. Two weeks after the conference, who has time for affirmations when we have to shower, dress, make coffee etc? You get the idea. We all do it, and we are human and it is okay.

But, in order to move forward in our life's journey and become the person that we want to be, it is important to commit to the things you believe will get you to that person and stick with the commitment, no matter what. In order to make commitments stick, it is helpful to sign up for something that forces you to stay the course. So, if you want to commit to a running routine, sign up for a half-marathon. Once you've paid the fee and told some people you have signed up, you are more likely to stay the course. Same goes for a yoga retreat. If you are committed to deepening your practice, then it is a great idea to register for a retreat. So, we are so thrilled and excited that so many of you have committed to your practice and will be joining us in Costa Rica this week. It is sure to be a transformative experience and you will be so so glad that you decided to do it, and you have done it! We can't wait to see you all there, and for those of you not joining us, stay tuned for reflections on our experience!